f~oan Lamas perform & da nDaly Arts:
Students for a Free Tibet is presenting the Drepung Loseling U Read Daily Arts for the kickoff of a week of Oscar cover-
Lamas performing "Sacred Music, Sacred Dance for Healing." The age, including commentary on the merits of each of the five
Tibetan lamas will grace St. Andrew's Episcopal Church at the nominees for Best Picture.
corner of Division and Katherine on Monday, March 16. The heal-
ing begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for students. See this
week's Metro Times or the Agenda for further details. T Friday
March 13, 1998
Harper's music moves body and mind
By Marquina Ib1ev
Daily Arts Writer
It's 1:30 in the afternoon in Boston,
Mass. and Ben Harper has been up for
almost 'an hour. After an exhausting New
York gig, he drove overnight to Boston and
already has talked to another interviewer
yesterday morning. As the interview
begins, he attempts to give his full atten-
tion.
Harper modestly waved off comparisons
to Robert Pete Williams, Stevie Wonder and
Marvin Gaye. Every reviewer has catego-
rized him in a different way. Throughout the
interview, I couldn't help but picture him,
probably still in pajamas, lounging casually
in his Boston hotel room.
Harper won't admit to having a favorite
artist or album, but instead he says he has
favorite music genres. "I enjoy rock, gentle
folk, blues, reggae and soul"he said with a
voice that could call the stars from the
heavens. He surprisingly mentioned that
CDs from artists such as Soundgarden,
Pearl Jam, as well as Erykah Badu and
Willie Johnson, were in his player.
In an industry notorious for churning out
glib pop, Harper's impassioned artistry
offers the perfect antidote. He has released
three albums so far - "Welcome to the
Cruel World," "Fight for Your Mind" and
"The Will to Live."
In addition, an acoustic version of "The
Will to Live" has recently has been re-
released. "The public had such a great
reaction to the album," Harper said.
"People really enjoyed it, so the acoustic
version was released. It is more true to the
sound."
Harper's folk-funk
guitar and enchanting
waif-like voice create
breathtaking tonal
Ben Harper interplay mixed with
S e sometimes simple
State The i lyrics. His melodic
Sunday voice resonates with
restrained power.
Whether it's a reg-
gae-inspired, Bob
Marley-influenced
track such as "Jah
Work" the bold folk-
gospel anthem in "I
Want to Be Ready" or
the explosive guitar phrasing in "Faded,"
Harper seems determined to move the body
and mind.
His message is as much verbal as it is
musical. Harper explains that listeners can
interpret each song themselves. "It really
doesn't matter, when it comes down to it,
he said. "If it was something I lived
through, or something I saw someone live
through or something I read about - that
doesn't matter, it was just an eniotion at the
time that was musically inspirational to
me."
His lyrics include spiritual undertones.
Each implies themes about diving deep into
the pits of despair while still seeing a glim-
mer of hope.
Harper seems to have found his place in
the world. "Since I was a child I had reflec-
tions of God in my life. I was always given
the freedom to choose my spiritual bound-
aries."
During a live performance people will
scream "I love you, Ben" and he has been
known to stop for a moment and reply "And
I you." He appears as an all-around nice
guy who is as honest with his audience as
he is with himself.
While remaining faithful to this rare hol-
low-necked lap instrument, made of now-
endangered Hawaiian koa wood, Harper
has begun to explore the musical capacity
of the Wiessenborn acoustic guitar. The
fourth track on "The Will To Live," titled
"Roses From My Friends" introduces the
acoustic Weissenborn chords to anal
technology.
The song begins with 10 to
Wiessenboms tracked backwards and -h
one forward playing "a low end slide over I
bed of other guitars." For his next albu
Harper wants "to do more with the slidei
tar now that I've got a better handle on
Harper has been praised for having
uncategorizable sound. He has been able
avoid record label and agent pressure
change his sound.
"In the beginning there was pressure
be a certain way to get on a label. Tha
why we settled with Virgin because th
encourage the creativity," he said.
In Italy, Turkey, New Zealand ;a
throughout Europe, Harper has ach'
global recognition. People from all ovj.
world are addicted to Harper's creativ
and enthusiasm, which makes the mu
come alive. "The crowds are really excii
and know the music," Harper said. "
great to travel around the world and hi
different languages sing the lyrics."
Harper's performance this Sunday prom
es to be full of feeling. While just beginni
to scratch the surface of superstardo
Harper should continue to win over listen
Sunday night. a
Courtesy ofVirgin Records
Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals perform Sunday at
the State Theater in Detroit.
Classic play
brings sweet
sorrow to A2
By Christopher Tkaczyk
Daily Campus Arts Editor
Fairest Romeo for art in Ann Arbor.
The Acting Company returns to the area for the
first time in four years with their current touring
production of "Romeo and Juliet."
The company, started in 1972 by the late John
Houseman (of "Paper Chase" fame) and Margot
Harley, is the country's only nationally touring
classical repertory theater. It was created out of
the first graduating class of the Juilliard School's
Drama Division, and has produced many of the
nation's top actors, including Patti Lupone and
Kevin Kline. This season marks the organization's
25th anniversary.
The company presents both contemporary and
classic plays around the nation, including pieces
by Tennessee Williams and Molifre.
The age-old tale of "Romeo and Juliet" follows
the story of two young lovers who die as a result
of their love for one another. Romeo Montague
sneaks into the Capulet's ball
to spy on Rosaline, with
whom he is much enamored.
But he catches the eye of
Romeo Juliet Capulet, daughter to the
and Juliet family with which the
Montagues are feuding. When
Michigan Theater Juliet's cousin, Tybalt, discov-
Sunday at 7 p.m. ers Romeo's romantic inten-
tions, he sets out to stop the
s lovers from furthering their
ties. Romeo eventually kills
Tybalt, and must run away to
avoid dire consequences.
Alter Friar Lawrence
becomes involved ... you
know the rest.
Directed by James Bundy, the Acting
Company's associate producing director, this pro-
duction promises to examine the story in a way
that other productions usually don't. Bundy's
assembled cast interprets "Romeo and Juliet" as a
love story stricken not because of the involvement
of outside society, but because of the actions of
the lovers themselves.
"You need to ask yourself, is it appropriate for
Romeo and Juliet to die? Is it not their own fault?"
asks Bundy. "Is it appropriate for Juliet to lie to
her parents? She tells them the truth only to mis-
lead them."
"The lovers are not without blame. Most pro-
ductions of 'Romeo and Juliet' view incorrectly
Courtesy of The Ac
Mercutio (Daniel Pearce) and Benvollo (Christopher Edwards) trespass In the Capulet's garden in The A
Company's "Romeo and Juliet."
how they are done in by society," he said.
This production is set in a more modern time (as
opposed to Shakespeare's day) because it allows
for current audiences to disassociate the tale from
modern thought.
In a society where youths attempt to become
individuals by being different instead of being
themselves, it is easy to assume that the star-
crossed lovers made their choices because they
didn't want to listen to Mom and Dad.
In all reality, Romeo and Juliet got themselves
into a mess, and didn't know how to deal with it.
The story remains the same throughout the ages,
but different productions look at it from different
angles.
"Shakespeare took a popular legend and insert-
ed it into his play. Even back then, for the original
production, (society's) values were assumed to be
correct," Bundy said.
"The world surrounding the lovers is morally
complex. Is it right for Romeo to kill Tybalt?"
"Most of the people who've seen the play can
see the love story in a different light. I believe that
Romeo isn't in love with Juliet until the end when
he discovers that Juliet has killed herself."
"It's at that moment when Romeo discovers
Juliet's body that the audience realizes his true love
for her, but then it's too late," Bundy expounded.
"Even people who've performed in a produc-
tion of 'Romeo and Juliet' have been shocked
when they see this version. They're able to see it
by ways they haven't seen it before."
"The text of the play indicates that Romeodi
n't fall in love with Juliet at first sight. She was
love with him, but he is believed to still have be
in love with Rosaline.
"As a result, we distrust h)im. By the time
proves to Juliet how much he loves her, we do
want him to. We don't want to see them die. We
not supposed to know that he doesn't truly love
until that moment. We're not supposed to tr
him. We're not supposed to like him until th
of the play. It's at the moment when we realiz
he's won."
The Acting Company's new production is set
the 19th-Century Victorian period. "I decided
choose a realistic society that is unlike our o
but one that also has many of the same stro
modernist values against which youth can rebe
Bundy said.
This production is designed by two Tony-wi
ning artists. Ming Cho Lee designed the set, a
Ann Hould-Ward created the Victorian costua.
"This company features the finest actors in t
country. It is a hallmark in American theate
Bundy said.
The Acting Company's "Romeo and Juliet" w
be presented just once on Sunday. With any luc
they'll decide to come around town again befo
the next four years pass by.
Tickets are $10, and can be purchased at t
Michigan Union Ticket Office and one ho
before the show beings at the Michigan Theat
Box Offic
The University of Michigan
School of Music
Friday, March 13
Concert Band
James Tapia, conductor
music by Bernstein, Kabalevsky, Schuman, Ticheli
Hill Auditorium, 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 14
Guest Master Class
William Warfield, bass-baritone
Britton Recital Hall, E. V. Moore Bldg., 7:30 p.m
Sunday, March 15
Michigan Chamber Players
Paul Kantor, Stephen Shipps, Rachel Snow, violinists
Yizhak Schotten, violist
Anthony Elliott and Erling Blondal Bengtsson, cellists
Bright Sheng and Anton Nei, pianists
" music by Mozart, Sheng and Faure
Rackham Auditorium (first floor), 4 p.m.
Monday, March 16
Michigan Youth Ensembles
Hill Auditorium, 7 p.m.
Composers Forum
Britton Recital Hall, E. V. Moore Bldg., 8 p.m.
Wednesday, March 18
BFAIBDA II Showing: Dance students perform repertory
Betty Pease Studio Theatre, Dance Bldg., 2:30 p.m.
T arch 19
U W Au umich
Rackham Auditorium ir -
All events are free and wheelchair accessible unless
specified otherwise. The E.V. Moore Bldg. is located
at 1100 Baits Drive, North Campus. For more information.
phone (734) 764-0594 or 764-0583 Monday - Friday from
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO INVESTIGATE MEDICAL SCHOOLS...
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The Medical School
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S* NF O R M A T I O N F AsI R
: Friday, March 20, 1998
10:00AM - 2:00PM
Michigan Union
All students
considering
a career in Information Fair
medicine . nBllrom i0:0iAM -2:on PM
welcome : Medical School Admissions Panel
Cosponsored : Ballroom 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Pre-Med Club Meet informally with medical school, post bac and test
preparation representatives from across the country
- Collect tips at the Admissions Panel
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Register for the Pre-Medical Students' Symposium
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For more informain, contac r~at
3200 Sudent Actin itie+ Buildin
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(7i3i "4-740,
wwv.cp. umic2 .d
The iverstyMichigan
Career Planning Placement
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